What’s the first thing you think about when you picture an engagement?

The ring. Of course there’s the future bride and groom, the tears and the happiness and the man on one knee but the center of every engagement is that ring — the ring that is a gift and commitment of a lifetime. That ring is everything.

Back in the day, it was tradition for the man proposing to spend three months of his salary on this gorgeous diamond and while I’m sure that happens all of the time still today, there are so many great alternatives where couples can actually save in the money department without skimping out on all of the beauty that thatgorgeous engagement ringhas to bring.

Have you ever heard of lab-grown diamonds?

Clean Origin is a 3rd generation jeweler that creates just that — lab-grown diamonds. The only thing that makes a lab-created diamond different from a mined diamoned is its origin. A lab-created diamond is “grown” inside a lab using cutting-edge technology that replicates the natural diamond growing process and as a result, the diamond is chemically, physically and optically the same as those grown beneath the Earth’s surface.

And what does that mean for you?

A gorgeous ethical diamond without breaking the bank. Yep, you heard that right.

Clean Origin has a 100-day money back guarantee on all products and they’ve got no brick and mortar — it’s all online, just the way we all love to shop these days. They’ve got 24/7 phone and email support, sell diamonds alone or in a setting, offer wedding bands, wedding sets, earring studs and hoops and bracelets. With over 100 ring styles available, free shipping, free resizing and a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty, you just can’t go wrong here.

So even if you’ve already proposed or already said, “YES!”, don’t forget that you’ve got the wedding day (hint hint: wedding bands) and anniversaries (hint hint: jewelry) down the road!

The Benefits of Lab-Grown Diamonds:

Of course, that price tag is one of the big benefits as lab-create diamonds mean you can get a diamond that’s 20-30% larger for the exact same price (aka, they cost about 20-30% less than mined diamonds). The reason is because mined diamonds have a long supply chain so by cutting out the miners, lab created diamonds touch fewer hands, making them less expensive, not cheap! An ethical, inexpensive engagement ring? Yes please!

And in addition to that, they’re ethical diamonds.

The mined diamond industry has come under fire for exploiting miners and families through forced labor, funding violent rebel movements in countries throughout Africa and for having a negative effect on our environment whereas lab-created diamonds are environmentally friendly diamonds because they take considerably less energy.

So let me ask you this — Where are you going to shop for your next ethical engagement ring or anniversary jewelry,

This post is sponsored by Ticket Club.I was compensated for my work. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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We landed in Hilo on the big Island of Hawaii. We were beginning the second week of our honeymoon. My wife kept commenting on all the ripped guys she saw walking around the airport. “What are you talking about,” I asked. “Everyone here seems to have chiseled bodies. Something special must be going on,” she replied. “No way, these are just normal looking people,” I said. I couldn’t fathom why she was looking at other guys on our honeymoon.

We were both athletes ourselves. I played basketball in high school and college and she played volleyball and soccer. I worked extremely hard to get into shape for our wedding day so I felt a bit self-conscious when my beautiful new wife continued to make comments about all the hard bodies, both men and women, she saw in the airport.

I thought I was in pretty good shape but when I stopped long enough to actually look at the people around us I observed men and women with unusually lean muscle mass, low body fat and a “ripped” look. “What’s going on here?” I asked one of the guys standing next to me. “This weekend is the Ironman Triathlon,” he replied.

No wonder. I felt like a fool. I learned an important lesson that day that has served me well in my marriage over the years. Listen to your wife. She was right and I was wrong. It’s hard for us guys to admit when we’re wrong. I had to admit I was wrong.

Below are three reasons why we should listen to our wives:

Listening to her perspective helps you see each situation with more clarity.

My wife sees things I don’t see. I have blind spots and don’t want to admit certain things even when they are in plain view. Women tend to pay attention to detail, are considerate to the feelings of those around them and have great discernment. My wife’s perspective adds richness, insight and depth to my perspective.

Listening to your wife will increase your wisdom.

The book of Proverbs discusses the differences between a wise person and a “fool.” One of the chief differences is a willingness to listen. When you listen to your wife, you’re honoring her, honoring your Creator and also growing in your wisdom. I’ve discovered that my wife has my best interests in mind. When you disregard her, you’re acting like a fool.

Listening shows your love for her.

When you truly listen, you’re communicating your love and respect to your wife. It results in helping you grow closer to each other. Most women have a need for meaningful communication that is every bit as powerful as the typical man’s need for sex. Improve your love life by listening to your wife. It’s an investment that pays big dividends.

My wife and I watched the beginning of the Ironman Triathlon together the next morning and saw the final runners cross the finish line later that evening. A special memory we will cherish forever.